During the 2009/2010 season, Corona played 160 minutes in 3 appearances.

During the 2010/2011 season, Corona played/made 39 appearances, including 34 starts, and scored six goals as Tijuana earned promotion to the Primera División. Joe Corona started his first game in Primera Division de Mexico, scoring his team's only goal in a 2–1 loss to Monarcas. On July 30, 2011, Corona scored a goal (2–0) against Rayados de Monterrey. Xolos were up by two but ended up losing that game.

Due to Joe Corona's unique ethnicity, his parents being of both Mexican and Salvadoran nationality, he was eligible to represent any of the three countries including the United States, as he is a US citizen. He was named to the preliminary roster to represent the United States in a friendly match against Mexico in August 2011 under Bob Bradley, but Bradley was fired before the official roster was announced. Corona stated that if he had been named to the official roster that "I think I would have accepted." Corona accepted a call-up to represent Mexico in a two-legged friendly series against Chile's U22 squad in preparation for the 2011 Pan American Games. Corona only played in the second game and this did not tie him to play for the Mexican team, as the game was not an official FIFA match.[4] Corona did not make the final cut for Mexico's Pan American Games squad, and on November 2, 2011, Corona accepted a call up to the United States U-23 team.

Corona found himself on the end of the bench at Club Tijuana during the Apertura 2013 season, with his playing time having vanished and his standing with the national team suddenly in jeopardy. Corona went many matches without playing a single minute, having been reduced to playing time in CONCACAF Champions League matches. He fell behind 18-year-old American prospect Paul Arriola on the Xolos depth chart during the Apertura 2013 season, and even further behind regular starter Javier Guernez in the plans of Club Tijuana head coach Jorge Almiron.

On October 17, 2014 the breaking news in the soccer world broke with indications that US international Joe Corona left Estadio Caliente on crutches after the game, as Club Tijuana came from behind to defeat Ronaldinho’s Querétaro 2-1. Corona and Greg Garza both came off the bench – with Xolos behind – after an hour, but the former was forced off 13 minutes later with what looked liked a serious injury to his right foot. Garza and Corona had just returned to their respective club after playing for the US Men's National Team in two friendly matches. Early reports in the media the following day indicated that Corona had fractured the fifth metatarsal bone of his right foot. Corona was placed on the Xolo's disable list and underwent surgery to repair the fracture on October 28, 2014. He returned to practice with his team Club Xolos in January, under strict supervision in preparation for the Clausura Torneo ( Tournament) 2015. As for the USA Men's National team he continues to be a top contender for which he was already brewing to become, as a regular starter prior to his foot injury.

On June 10, 2015 the Liga MX draft conference concluded with a last minute transaction between Club Tijuana and the Veracruz Tiburones. Joe Benny Corona was traded from Club Tijuana, in a deal that would send him packing to Veracruz, Mexico. The decision did not resonate very well with local fans from both sides of the border, as Corona had always been seen as the face of the Xolos bi-national relations and marketable agenda. Corona left a historic mark with the Tijuana team, since he was the player that scored the goal, which took the team to an upper level of recognition with in the first division platform. It was Joe Corona who placed the first goal into the net, when Club Tijuana scored their first goal as first division contenders. Corona, hit the social media immediately the following day giving thanks to his fans, for always making him feel at home. He also added, he always felt comforted by great people. "It is six years of soccer which I take with me, no matter where I go, god bless Tijuana" his statement concluded. Corona is set to start the Apertura Torneo 2015, in the city of Veracruz, Mexico, with the team known as Tiburones Rojos, of professional soccer in the LIGA MX.

At the same time news spread of Joe Corona's departure from Club Tijuana, on June 10, 2015, the USA Men's National team placed Corona on the 35 man preliminary roster for the International tournament Gold Cup.

Joe Corona is of Mexican and Salvadoran descent. His mother was born in El Salvador (Janira Corona), and his father in Mexico (Angel Corona). He has one sibling (a sister). In several media interviews, Joe Corona has stated he feels more Mexican-American and rooted into the Mexican culture, this in part because his mother whom was born in El Salvador, never instilled the Salvadorian culture to him. These comments caused a huge uproar in the Salvadoran community both in the U.S. and abroad. Many in the media accused him of not being proud of his heritage, while others embraced the comments and supported his attachment to the Mexican heritage. He was born in Los Angeles, California, and as a young boy moved to Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. He later moved to San Diego, where he attended Sweetwater High School in National City. He graduated and received a scholarship to attend San Diego State University. Corona scored three goals and had an assist in 15 games with the Aztecs in 2008.[5] He resides in the border town of San Ysidro.